Carers

CARER SUPPORT SERVICES

Carer Support Services available at this practice - ARE YOU A HIDDEN CARER?

Elbury Moor and Worcestershire Association of Carers are providing this service dedicated to the support of carers. Carers can make an appointment with the GP Carer Support Adviser, Lisa Lynch who will be holding surgeries within our practice and also making home visits for those who are currently unable to leave the person they care for on their own. The support service is designed to reach out to carers, telling them about the support available to them and looking at numerous issues including social isolation, accessing correct benefits, respite care etc.

Would you be surprised to know that throughtout the UK approximately six thousand new people per day are identified as carers and there are approximately 60,000 in Worcestershire alone? These are unpaid people who support a relative, friend or neighbour who, through ill health, frailty or disability, are no longer able to care for themselves. Often called 'hidden carers', research shows that approximately 65% of people with a caring responsibility did not see themeslves as a carer in the first year of caring and for a third of them it took over five years before they recognised they were a carer. Twice as likely to suffer ill health as those who do not have caring responsibilities, people who provide high levels of care can ultimately find their own needs are neglected with the demands often affecting their career, finances and relationships, thus having a detrimental effect on both their physical and emotional well being.

You could be a hidden carer. Why not take advantage of this new service? To make an appointment please ask your GP to make a referral on your behalf. All communidation will be dealt with in the strictest of confidence.